Rabs: Um, Daniel, I don’t know how to say this, but there was this big honkin’ chunk-o-fused tea thing in my Weight Loss tea sample. I thought you should know. Should I be worried? Do you know what it is?

Daniel: No need to be worried! What you found is called a Toucha ball.

Super-cool explanation follows regarding Toucha balls.

Rabs: Hooray! I’ve learned something new. Thank you :D

::runs back to teapot and adds the Toucha ball for her second steep:: TG

I’m on my third steep: it’s so yummy! After the second infuson I looked in my teapot and the little ball was all floofy and just ready to break apart. I forgot to look after the third, but I’m probably going back for a fourth.

For some reason I haven’t tried this one yet. It taunts me from the tea drawer. I’ll have to peek inside mine and see if I have any Toucha balls (whoa- I think there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere). Maybe I’ll be brave and try it soon.

A few years ago I found one of those in a green tea sold by a local shop, and I tossed it because I didn’t know what it was while swearing at the fact that it had added to the weight of the tea so I’d got less for my money. Of course I’ve kicked myself about that ever since I had my first pu-erh toucha. I’d actually got MORE for my money and threw it away. Ignorance is dangerous.

Ouch — so sorry to hear that :( I’m super grateful for Steepster since I think without this community I would’ve tossed it and never purchased this tea again (not thinking about the weight/rip-off issue, but of contamination instead). Since I have Steepster I set it aside and asked. :)

I’m on my third steep: it’s so yummy! After the second infuson I looked in my teapot and the little ball was all floofy and just ready to break apart. I forgot to look after the third, but I’m probably going back for a fourth.

For some reason I haven’t tried this one yet. It taunts me from the tea drawer. I’ll have to peek inside mine and see if I have any Toucha balls (whoa- I think there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere). Maybe I’ll be brave and try it soon.

A few years ago I found one of those in a green tea sold by a local shop, and I tossed it because I didn’t know what it was while swearing at the fact that it had added to the weight of the tea so I’d got less for my money. Of course I’ve kicked myself about that ever since I had my first pu-erh toucha. I’d actually got MORE for my money and threw it away. Ignorance is dangerous.

Ouch — so sorry to hear that :( I’m super grateful for Steepster since I think without this community I would’ve tossed it and never purchased this tea again (not thinking about the weight/rip-off issue, but of contamination instead). Since I have Steepster I set it aside and asked. :)

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Bio

Proud all-around nerd, crafter, and brand-new Assistant Library Director. Give me an engrossing book and a wonderful cup of tea and I’m in heaven.

After being a barista for almost a decade it wasn’t until 2010 that I discovered loose leaf tea. Now I’m hooked.

How I use Steepster has been evolving since I joined. Yes, I use it for my personal “to buy or not to buy” info, but I’m enough of a goofball that I hope it can amuse others more often than not.

I’ve also started to become anal about my tea (times and temps). That’s surprised me. I finally realized that I should respect the leaves like I used to respect the beans. I also take my tea plain unless otherwise noted.

There’s really nothing remarkable or noteworthy of how I rate teas. I do take it a tiny further step to help clarify the muddled middle grounds for myself. TG is a definite repurchase. Anything below that is less and less likely.